Fans of the UNC Basketball Program beware… you might not like what you are about to read.
Recently, On3 released their unanimous top basketball recruiting rankings for the class of 2022. Of the top 50 players listed, only one is a future Tar Heel.
Seth Trimble comes in 37th on the list, as he has jumped 28 places in the list since his previous ranking was released. If you expand on their Top 100 ranking list, two other Tar Heels join the mix in the future, as Jalen Washington and Tyler Nickel are respected as number 58 and number 88 prospects.
Of course, having three Top 100 players in a recruiting class is a good thing for a college basketball program. However, this is not ideal when your biggest rival is dominating the recruiting class rankings.
The On3 consensus ranks Kyle Filipowski, Derek Lively II, and Derrick Whitehead as three of the top four recruits in the class of 2022. All three players, of course, are going to Durham.
🚨UPDATED 2022 TOP 150🏀
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) February 14, 2022
View all HERE: https://t.co/YFaQPUyr3q pic.twitter.com/Sd9mkKW90C
Overall, Duke has five of the top 100 ranked players on the list, all of whom are among the 51 best players in the class. Mark Mitchell (No. 22) and Jaden Schutt (No. 51) are other future Blue Devils listed, as five of the team's six overall commits are seen as top-tier commits.
Even with coach Mike Krzyzewski retiring at the end of the season, the Blue Devils have left no stone unturned in the hiring process. Future head coach Jon Scherer has led the program's recruiting over the past few seasons, so just because one coaching change doesn't mean he'll be slow with regards to getting commitments from some of high school's top players.
Rankings do not necessarily translate into wins. However, it is a trend that has been consistent over the years. Duke does a tremendous job at wooing high school's top talent, while North Carolina struggles in that aspect.
Needless to say, North Carolina is a blue blood program, and it inevitably needs to step up its recruiting game to keep the likes of Duke and Kentucky on the recruiting trail.